“Our Nation enshrines the presumption of innocence for a reason,” he said in a news release. “I look forward to having my day in court, where I am confident that I will ultimately be vindicated. Now is the time I must work to that end.” Read More »

New York state Sen. Malcolm Smith, left, and New York City Council Member Dan Holloran.

The sweeping investigation that led to the arrests of six New York political figures Tuesday includes allegations of bribery, a rigged real-estate deal, misuse of public discretionary funds and an effort by a would-be candidate to buy entry onto the Republican mayoral ballot. The 28-page complaint details the wide-ranging probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with alleged quotes from defendants.

Those arrested included two Queens lawmakers — state Sen. Malcolm Smith, a Democrat who sought to run for mayor as a Republican, and City Council Member Dan Halloran, a Republican — leaders from the Republican organizations in the Bronx and Queens, and the mayor and deputy mayor of an upstate village.

The complaint in the case describes what U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara termed “an unappetizing smorgasbord of graft” during his impassioned comments at a midday news conference Tuesday. The alleged evidence in the case came, in part, from recordings made by a cooperating witness and an undercover FBI agent posing as a wealthy real-estate developer.